A fare-thee-well, thanks and a look to the future
The National Organisation for FASD would like to take a moment and celebrate the contributions of three key people who have made our work possible over recent years but who sadly are leaving us.
Nikki Pasek MBE
Nikki Pasek MBE is stepping down from our board of trustees after more than 5 years’ service to the organisation, including as former chair of our trustees and as member of our Finance and Governance Committee. Nikki’s extensive experience in strategic and operational development has helped National FASD strengthen its governance and has helped us navigate through the unprecedented COVID and post-COVID world.
Acting Chair Alasdair Bovaird paid tribute to Nikki saying, “Nikki’s wisdom and her support have been a constant through an ever-changing landscape. Her willingness to share her experience, insights and connections have been incredibly helpful to the organisation as it evolves.”
In addition, National FASD sadly has had to make the very difficult decision to make two of our valued staff redundant as a result of the challenging financial times facing charities. The National Council on Voluntary Organisations called 2025 the “year of the ‘big squeeze’” for charities in what they call “unpredictable and challenging times.” National FASD is not immune to these pressures.
Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts has served as our Director of Wellbeing and Training for the past three years, though his connection to the organisation extends much longer, particularly as a key consultant who helped us develop the Me and My FASD toolkit during COVID, with support of the Department of Health and Social Care. He has helped us continue to develop Me and My FASD resources, including special boxes made available to families during COVID via a grant from Contact/Pears, the Living FASD magazine, and the Teaching a Student with FASD publication. Brian, a former virtual school head and long-time foster carer, has engaged with senior policy makers and contributed to our Time is Now and Not Commissioned publications. He also has led the pilot of some highly successful training programme options, including in Hackney’s Children and Family Hubs and nationally with a sister organisation, Kinship. Most importantly, Brian has supported people with FASD and their families and ensured their voices continue to be central to the work we are doing.
“Brian’s contributions are many and impossible to encapsulate fully in a few sentences. We are pleased and honoured that Brian will continue to stay engaged with National FASD on our Experts Committee and as a consultant,” said Sandy Butcher, Chief Executive
Alice Sewell
Alice Sewell also has been working with National FASD for three years, as our Training Project Officer. Before joining us, Alice was a teacher who had received no training about FASD. In the three years she has been with National FASD she has become a trainer, developed an expertise and guided our training and publications, including playing a key role in the development of the Hackney and Kinship offers previously mentioned. Alice has helped coordinate our helpline and has been a key part of our social media team, including with the launch of our new highly successful TikTok channel. She has helped with development of new resources for the Me and My FASD toolkit, including the Living FASD magazine and the Teaching a Student with FASD publication.
Sandy Butcher said, “Alice has helped our work in so many ways, not only by sharing her insights as a former teacher, as a trainer, but also as a new mum who shared her experiences as a maternity services user. Her positivity and insights have been so appreciated.”
Butcher continued, “Both Brian and Alice will be sorely missed. All of us at National FASD thank them for the excellent contributions over the past three years.”
She continued, “I am confident 2026 will be a year of alignment. We are all really excited to work with our Trustees and other stakeholders to refresh the organisation’s strategy. We understand the urgency of raising awareness of the risks of alcohol in pregnancy and we know that people with FASD, their families, and the professionals who support them are in need of our work now more than ever.”
